THE COMEDIENNE'S GUIDE TO PRIDE

When Taylor Parker becomes a finalist for Saturday Night Live’s diversity internship, her life explodes.

As a fully closeted lesbian, if she wins, Taylor won’t just be out to her friends and family, she’ll suddenly be out to the world. She has until Christmas, after which the winner’s name will be released. The rest of her life isn’t any easier: She’s growing apart from her best friend, Brooke; hiding a secret romance with beautiful (and out) theater kid Charlotte; and struggling through family crises. As both her romance and ambitions grow stronger, Taylor must force herself to be more than just the funny girl; she must also be courageous about who she is. The book is carried along by a buoyant tone. Taylor is genuinely appealing, a distinct narrator whose showmanship is funny and whose love of stand-up and sketch writing comes across as a true passion. Thomson uses Taylor’s hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, full of quirky locals and locations, to find humor and even pathos in a place associated with persecution in popular culture. Charlotte and Taylor are refreshingly passionate—but also realistically sweet and awkward in turns—and Taylor’s relationships with other female friends and mentors are highlights. She’s organically surrounded by complicated and caring women who are like herself in different ways, guiding her toward her own truth. Most characters default to White; Brooke is Black.

A charmer with hidden depth.